ENERGY IN BIOMASS

BIOMASS

RADIATION FROM THE SUN IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR ALL LIVING THINGS- THE SUN'S LIGHT IS CAPTURED AND USED NY GREEN PLANTS DURING PHOTOSYNTHESIS TO MAKE NEW BIOMASS

THE BIOMASS IS MADE BY PLANTS IS PASSED ON THROUGH FOOD CHAINS

1 of 5

PYRAMIDS OF BIOMASS

BASIC STRUCTURE:

BIOMASS OF TERTIARY CONSUMER (CARNIVORE)

BIOMASS OF SECONDARY CONSUMER (CARNIVORE)

BIOMASS OF PRIMARY CONSUMER (HERBIVORE)

BIOMASS OF PLANTS (PRODUCERS)

MASS OF LIVING MATERIAL AT EACH STAGE OF FOOD CHAIN IS LESS THAN THE PREVIOUS STAGE THIS BECAUSE:

SOME MATERIAL AND ENERGY IS PASSED OUT AS WASTE

SOME ENERGY IS USED FOR GROWTH AND MOVEMENT

SOME ENERGY IS USED FOR RESPIRATION

NOT ALL PARTS OF LIVING ORGANISM ARE EDIBLE EG. HAIR AND NAILS

2 of 5

DECAY PROCESSES

DECOMPOSERSBREAK DOWN THE WASTE OF DEAD ANIMALS AND PLANTS, DURING THIS PROCESS THE DECOMPOSERS RETURN NUTRIENTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT, SAME MATERIAL IS REPEATEDLY RECYCLED.

DECOMPOSERS ARE A GROUP OF MICROORGANISMS INCLUDING BACTERIA AND FUNGI

DETRIUS FEEDERS- WORMS AND MAGGOTS- BEGIN THE PROCESS OF DECAY BY EATING DEAD ANIMALS AND PRODUCING WASTE MATERIAL WHICH THE BACTERIA AND FUNGI DIGEST. THEY USE SOME NUTRIENTS TO GROW AND REPRODUCE. THEY ALSO RELEASE WASTE PRODUCTS.

WASTE PRODUCTS OF DECOMPOSITION ARE: CARBON DIOXIDE, WATER AND NUTRIENTS

CONDITIONS FOR DECAY NEED TO BE WARM AND MOIST AND THERE NEEDS TO BE AVAILABLE OXYGEN.

3 of 5

CARBON CYCLE

CARBON DIOXIDE IS REMOVED FROM THE ATMOSPHERE BY PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND RETURNED BY RESPIRATION AND COMBUSTION

PHOTOSYNTHESIS:

CARBON DIOXIDE + WATER (+LIGHT ENERGY) = GLUCOSE + OXYGEN

RESPIRATION:

GLUCOSE+OXYGEN = CARBON DIOXIDE + WATER (+ ENERGY)

COMBUSTION:

FOSSIL FUEL OR WOOD + OXYGEN = CARBON DIOXIDE + WATER

4 of 5

RECYCLING ORGANIC WASTE

PROBLEMS OF WASTE: KITCHEN AND GARDEN WASTE PUT IN TO LANDFILL SITES IS SMELLY AND DOES NOT ROT EASILY. THE MICROORGANISMS THAT BREAK DOWN THIS WASTE PRODUCE METHANE GAS WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO GLOBAL WARMING.

MAKING COMPOST IS THE EASIEST WAY OF RECYCLING KITCHEN AND GARDEN WASTE, THE COMPOST CONTAINS MANY NUTRIENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN RELEASED BY DECOMPOSERS. COMPOST FORMS A GOOD NATURAL FERTILISER.